My office is discussing the idea of asking our donors about their preferred vehicle of communication for solicitations (mail, email, phone, combo), and what time of year would be best to solicit them. Has anyone done this before? If so, do you have examples of surveys? Ultimately we are looking to cut back on unneccessary mailings/solicitations, and to save $. I would be grateful for any feedback. Thanks, Donielle Dir of Annual Giving Episcopal HS

hmmm my first reaction is "don't ask a question you may not want to know the answer to". Knowing this informaiton is so limiting to your program that while it may reduce costs it may also reduce revenue (not good). If you are only allowed to solicit in November and you do and they do not respond aren't you stuck not soliciting them again for 12 months? I always offer a One Letter A Year option to those who contact us and request it or in response to a complaint about too much mail and honor those requests. However, a blanket invitation to all donors would be counterproductive to best practices in direct response fundraising. I would feel that a better approach would be to analyze your program and put your dollars in the best areas. If you mail 4 times a year but one of those times is less productive cut it or make 1-2 of them smaller mailing by only mailing to current donors. (not lapsed donors - current donors - you can ask me why later if you need to) Emailing is also a very inexpensve way to reduce costs. Take 1 or 2 of your mailings and remove all constituents with email (that you are allowed to use) and send them an email solicitation instead. The definition of "Unneccessary mailings/solicitations" should be dictated by you and the numbers - not by your donors who don't realize the science in repetitive mailings increasing revenue. Melissa S. Graves Director of Development Services The Village for Families and Children mgraves (at) villageforchildren.org www.villageforchildren.org GET ON THE BUS! Check out what the Blackbaud User Society is talking about today at www.blackbus.org!

Hi Donielle,

 

I know this is a very old message but I wanted to share my thoughts.  My department is actually thinking of doing a survey as well. We have been lucky thus far that some people tell us what their preferences are in receiving information from us.  We just think of it as one of millions of ways to connect with our donors' needs.

 

Elizabeth, wondering if your dept. went through with the survey and whether you recieved responses back.  What mechanism did you use?

thanks.